A schizophrenic, who went missing from UP, was finally reunited with her family, all thanks to these Kanjurmarg cops
A schizophrenic, who went missing from UP, was finally reunited with her family, all thanks to these Kanjurmarg cops
It wouldn't be wrong to say that corrupt, cold and callous, is probably your alliterative description of the Mumbai police. This story will change your perception.
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TOP COPS: (From left) Constable Neelam Munankar, Assistant Sub-Inspector Raghunath Kakad and Senior Police Inspector D S Mali at Kanjurmarg police station helped reunite mentally-disturbed Anju Gupta with her parents. Pic//DATTA KUMBHAR |
On February 13, Anju Gupta (26) was reunited with her family in Rae Bareli after two years at the Thane Mental Hospital. She was found roaming the streets of Bhandup on June 7, 2007 and when the police realised her responses were incoherent, they approached the Metropolitan Court and finally got her admitted for treatment at the Thane Mental Hospital, as is the norm.
Though the police are required to follow-up on these cases, it never gets done and the family of the missing person finally gives her up for dead. That's what would have happened here too, but for two cops assistant sub-inspector Raghunath Kakad and constable Neelam Munankar of Kanjurmarg police station.
Said Kakad, "My colleague and I used to meet the girl every few months in the hope that she would open up and tell us her story. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia and her replies were always incoherent. But we never gave up and gradually we could see her improve."
Added Munankar, "The fact that she has been reunited with her parents gives us so much joy. Our involvement in this case was almost personal. Anju had become our friend."
The social worker in the case, Swati Kulkarni, said, "After almost two years, she was finally well enough to speak of her family and her address. She also said the family had financial problems and she left home to make money in Mumbai. I am thrilled for her, very rarely do we see happy endings."
Senior Police Inspector D S Mali from Kanjurmarg police station said, "We were all in tears when the family was reunited. This is a rare case. We are happy that the social worker and our police helped the girl unite with her parents."
Said Anju's father, Ramnaresh, "We had given up hope. I had been searching for her ever since she went missing. My daughter is a Std XII dropout and is a quiet girl. I've spoken to her and she says she does not remember how she reached Mumbai, but is happy to be back home."
Spot the difference
Cases like Anju's become a missing person case so, the police...
Normally File a missing person caseu00a0
Tries to locate the parents
Person is sent to NGO, mental hospital, remand home as per the case
Rarely do the police followup on the case
In this caseDid all of the above and also spoke to the girl regularly.
Got updates on the girl via the hospital and social worker
Tried to make the girl comfortable in their presence by regular visits so she would open up
Cut all red tape, once the girl gave her address
They wrote a letter to the family, called the local MP in Rae Barelli immediately.
